Precautions for feeding premature infants at 31 weeks

Because every pregnant woman's physique is different. Premature birth is often prone to occur, which will have a certain impact on the fetus, especially in the 31st week of late pregnancy. The organs and functions of the fetus are not fully developed and cannot adapt to the outside world better. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the care of the baby. Special attention must be paid to the feeding method to ensure that the baby can better absorb nutrients. Let's learn about the feeding precautions for 31-week premature babies.

Precautions for feeding premature infants at 31 weeks

Choice of dairy products: The main difference between dairy products is the energy density. 100ml of premature infant formula contains about 80kcal, 100ml of premature infant formula after discharge contains about 73kcal, and 100ml of breast milk or full-term infant formula contains about 67kcal. Different premature babies require different energy densities. If their weight at discharge is consistent with their corrected gestational age, they can be fed with pure breast milk or full-term formula milk; if their weight is lower than the weight corresponding to their corrected gestational age, they need to be fed with post-discharge premature formula milk or breast milk + breast milk additives; if their weight is significantly lower than their corrected gestational age, they can also be fed with premature formula milk for a short period of time.

Feeding time: Full-term babies can be fed on demand, but premature babies, especially those born at a very small gestational age, still need regular feeding after discharge from the hospital. Generally feed once every 3 hours. If the baby sleeps for more than 4 hours, he needs to be woken up and fed. The time to feed premature babies with formula milk, breast milk + breast milk additives, or premature formula milk after discharge from the hospital is based on their weight gain. If their weight catches up with their growth and has reached the weight corresponding to the corrected gestational age, they can be fed with pure breast milk or full-term formula milk. This needs to be judged based on the growth curve. Another more convenient method is to feed until 3 months after birth or when the weight reaches 4kg, but it is not as accurate as the previous method.

Amount of milk fed: The amount of milk fed each time is directly related to the nutrients and energy the baby consumes. Generally, premature babies gain weight rapidly after discharge from the hospital, and their milk needs also increase rapidly. Premature babies who meet the discharge conditions can generally drink more than 40 ml of milk each time after discharge. Some premature babies can increase their intake to 60 ml to 70 ml each time within a short period of time after discharge. But the intake amount often fluctuates each time, as long as the total daily intake meets the requirement, it is fine.

Precautions during and after feeding: Premature babies have poor body functions and are easily fatigued when feeding. Sometimes they fall asleep after taking a little milk, wake up soon and continue eating, which increases the difficulty of care. It is recommended to touch the baby's face and ears with your hands while feeding to give slight stimulation, prevent him from falling asleep, and allow him to take in the required amount of milk at one time. Because the gastrointestinal tract of premature babies is immature, they are prone to regurgitation and regurgitation of milk after feeding. Pat the back after each feeding. Hold the child upright, with your palms hollow, and pat the back corresponding to the stomach, tapping gently until the child burps. This will help to expel the gas in the stomach and reduce the chance of vomiting. After patting, let the baby lie on his side to avoid suffocation caused by spitting up milk. At the same time, it is best to modify the baby's crib so that the head is high and the feet are low to reduce gastroesophageal reflux.

The above is an introduction to the feeding precautions for 31-week premature babies. After understanding it, we know that we must be particularly careful when feeding premature babies, and we must master the correct methods and feed on demand. There is a certain difference from full-term babies. The swallowing ability and respiratory system of premature babies are not yet complete, so special attention must be paid when feeding.